A student self-management strategy for reducing inattentiveness, disruptiveness and teacher intervention

A large body of evidence suggests that the use of self-management procedures can reduce significantly the occurrence of disruptive behaviours and teacher dependency for task completion. The present study used a single subject design with two students with developmental disabilities to test the effectiveness of a TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication Handicapped Children) self-management system. The system employed a visual schedule work routine coupled with a token economy and self-selection of reinforcers. Tho findings of this study showed that both students were able to utilise a TEACCH style self-management system to engage in on-task behaviour and to reduce disruptive behaviours and teacher dependency without external prompting. In addition, performance accuracy was maintained by both students during the course of the investigation following the introduction of treatment. One student demonstrated improved work productivity during the course of the study. This investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of the TEACCH procedures. A key feature of the procedure was the use of a highly visual schedule-following chained task sequencing work system. The results suggest that aspects of the procedure might work well for other individuals who have a moderate or severe developmental disability. Success was also demonstrated by one student whose performance improved even after the physical components of the work system were removed during a probe phase

Catechol estrogens stimulate insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells via activation of the transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) channel

Estrogen hormones play an important role in controlling glucose homeostasis and pancreatic β-cell function. Despite the significance of estrogen hormones for regulation of glucose metabolism, little is known about the roles of endogenous estrogen metabolites in modulating pancreatic β-cell function. In this study, we evaluated the effects of major natural estrogen metabolites, catechol estrogens, on insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. We show that catechol estrogens, hydroxylated at positions C2 and C4 of the steroid A ring, rapidly potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion via a nongenomic mechanism. 2-Hydroxyestrone, the most abundant endogenous estrogen metabolite, was more efficacious in stimulating insulin secretion than any other tested catechol estrogens. In insulin-secreting cells, catechol estrogens produced rapid activation of calcium influx and elevation in cytosolic free calcium. Catechol estrogens also generated sustained elevations in cytosolic free calcium and evoked inward ion current in HEK293 cells expressing the transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) cation channel. Calcium influx and insulin secretion stimulated by estrogen metabolites were dependent on the TRPA1 activity and inhibited with the channel-specific pharmacological antagonists or the siRNA. Our results suggest the role of estrogen metabolism in a direct regulation of TRPA1 activity with potential implications for metabolic diseases

Gender Differences in VO2 and HR Kinetics at the Onset of Moderate and Heavy Exercise Intensity in Adolescents

The majority of the studies on VO2 kinetics in pediatric populations investigated gender differences in prepubertal children during submaximal intensity exercise, but studies are lacking in adolescents. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that gender differences exist in the VO2 and heart rate (HR) kinetic responses to moderate (M) and heavy (H) intensity exercise in adolescents. Twenty-one healthy African-American adolescents (9 males, 15.8 ± 1.1 year; 12 females, 15.7 ± 1 year) performed constant work load exercise on a cycle ergometer at M and H. The VO2 kinetics of the male group was previously analyzed (Lai et al., Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 33:107–117, 2008b). For both genders, VO2 and HR kinetics were described with a single exponential at M and a double exponential at H. The fundamental time constant (τ1) of VO2 was significantly higher in female than male at M (45 ± 7 vs. 36 ± 11 sec, P \u3c 0.01) and H (41 ± 8 vs. 29 ± 9 sec, P \u3c 0.01), respectively. The functional gain (G1) was not statistically different between gender at M and statistically higher in females than males at H: 9.7 ± 1.2 versus 10.9 ± 1.3 mL min−1 W−1, respectively. The amplitude of the slow component was not significantly different between genders. The HR kinetics were significantly (τ1, P \u3c 0.01) slower in females than males at M (61 ± 16 sec vs. 45 ± 20 sec, P \u3c 0.01) and H (42 ± 10 sec vs. 30 ± 8 sec, P = 0.03). The G1 of HR was higher in females than males at M: 0.53 ± 0.11 versus 0.98 ± 0.2 bpm W−1 and H: 0.40 ± 0.11 versus 0.73 ± 0.23 bpm W−1, respectively. Gender differences in the VO2 and HR kinetics suggest that oxygen delivery and utilization kinetics of female adolescents differ from those in male adolescents. © 2016 The Authors

Towards 50% Efficiency in Solar Cells

International audienc

Satellite-Derived Variability in Chlorophyll, Wind Stress, Sea Surface Height, and Temperature in the Northern California Current System

Satellite-derived data provide the temporal means and seasonal and nonseasonal variability of four physical and biological parameters off Oregon and Washington ( 41 degrees - 48.5 degrees N). Eight years of data ( 1998 - 2005) are available for surface chlorophyll concentrations, sea surface temperature ( SST), and sea surface height, while six years of data ( 2000 - 2005) are available for surface wind stress. Strong cross-shelf and alongshore variability is apparent in the temporal mean and seasonal climatology of all four variables. Two latitudinal regions are identified and separated at 44 degrees - 46 degrees N, where the coastal ocean experiences a change in the direction of the mean alongshore wind stress, is influenced by topographic features, and has differing exposure to the Columbia River Plume. All these factors may play a part in defining the distinct regimes in the northern and southern regions. Nonseasonal signals account for similar to 60 - 75% of the dynamical variables. An empirical orthogonal function analysis shows stronger intra-annual variability for alongshore wind, coastal SST, and surface chlorophyll, with stronger interannual variability for surface height. Interannual variability can be caused by distant forcing from equatorial and basin-scale changes in circulation, or by more localized changes in regional winds, all of which can be found in the time series. Correlations are mostly as expected for upwelling systems on intra-annual timescales. Correlations of the interannual timescales are complicated by residual quasi-annual signals created by changes in the timing and strength of the seasonal cycles. Examination of the interannual time series, however, provides a convincing picture of the covariability of chlorophyll, surface temperature, and surface height, with some evidence of regional wind forcing

Orbital Solutions and Absolute Elements of the Short-Period Eclipsing Binary ES Librae

We have obtained new differential UBV photoelectric photometry and radial velocities of both components of the short-period eclipsing binary ES Lib. The system has a circular orbit with a period of 0.883040928 days and is seen at an inclination of 70.1°. With the Wilson-Devinney analysis program, we obtained a simultaneous solution of our photometric and spectroscopic observations that resulted in masses of M1 = 2.30 ± 0.03 M⊙ and M2 = 0.97 ± 0.01 M⊙ and the equal-volume radii of R1 = 2.69 ± 0.02 R⊙ and R2 = 1.83 ± 0.01 R⊙ for the primary and secondary, respectively. The secondary is oversized and overluminous for its mass. The effective temperatures of the primary and secondary are 8500 K (fixed) and 5774 ± 57 K, respectively. Despite the very large temperature difference, our photometric and spectroscopic data indicate that ES Lib is not semidetached but rather require it to be in an overcontact state, where both components exceed their critical Roche lobes. Given its nonthermal equilibrium state, if the overcontact solution correctly characterizes the system, the change from being semidetached to overcontact may have occurred recently. While the asymmetry of the light curves can be modeled well with a large, hot starspot or a large, cool one on the secondary component, we prefer the latter interpretation because cool spots are a typical feature on many contact binaries

Disruption of beta cell acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 in mice impairs insulin secretion and beta cell mass

Aims/hypothesis Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis, and beta cell failure is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Glucose triggers insulin secretion in beta cells via oxidative mitochondrial pathways. However, it also feeds mitochondrial anaplerotic pathways, driving citrate export and cytosolic malonyl-CoA production by the acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) enzyme. This pathway has been proposed as an alternative glucose-sensing mechanism, supported mainly by in vitro data. Here, we sought to address the role of the beta cell ACC1-coupled pathway in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in vivo. Methods Acaca, encoding ACC1 (the principal ACC isoform in islets), was deleted in beta cells of mice using the Cre/loxP system. Acaca floxed mice were crossed with Ins2cre mice (βACC1KO; life-long beta cell gene deletion) or Pdx1creER mice (tmx-βACC1KO; inducible gene deletion in adult beta cells). Beta cell function was assessed using in vivo metabolic physiology and ex vivo islet experiments. Beta cell mass was analysed using histological techniques. Results βACC1KO and tmx-βACC1KO mice were glucose intolerant and had defective insulin secretion in vivo. Isolated islet studies identified impaired insulin secretion from beta cells, independent of changes in the abundance of neutral lipids previously implicated as amplification signals. Pancreatic morphometry unexpectedly revealed reduced beta cell size in βACC1KO mice but not in tmx-βACC1KO mice, with decreased levels of proteins involved in the mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR)-dependent protein translation pathway underpinning this effect. Conclusions/interpretation Our study demonstrates that the beta cell ACC1-coupled pathway is critical for insulin secretion in vivo and ex vivo and that it is indispensable for glucose homeostasis. We further reveal a role for ACC1 in controlling beta cell growth prior to adulthood

Photon number resolution using a time-multiplexed single-photon detector

Photon number resolving detectors are needed for a variety of applications including linear-optics quantum computing. Here we describe the use of time-multiplexing techniques that allows ordinary single photon detectors, such as silicon avalanche photodiodes, to be used as photon number-resolving detectors. The ability of such a detector to correctly measure the number of photons for an incident number state is analyzed. The predicted results for an incident coherent state are found to be in good agreement with the results of a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration.Comment: REVTeX4, 6 pages, 8 eps figures, v2: minor changes, v3: changes in response to referee report, appendix added, 1 reference adde

Controlling magnetic order and quantum disorder in molecule-based magnets

We investigate the structural and magnetic properties of two molecule-based magnets synthesized from the same starting components. Their different structural motifs promote contrasting exchange pathways and consequently lead to markedly different magnetic ground states. Through examination of their structural and magnetic properties we show that [Cu(pyz)(H2O)(gly)2](ClO4)2 may be considered a quasi-one-dimensional quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet whereas the related compound [Cu(pyz)(gly)](ClO4), which is formed from dimers of antiferromagnetically interacting Cu2+ spins, remains disordered down to at least 0.03 K in zero field but shows a field-temperature phase diagram reminiscent of that seen in materials showing a Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons