Supplemental Educational Services (SES): Effects of SES Tutoring on Student Achievement

This study examined the effectiveness of Supplemental Educational Services (SES) tutoring in increasing the reading and mathematics achievement of Title I students in a Florida elementary school. Kindergarten through fifth grade students who had been matched on their previous performance on the Florida Assessment in Reading (FAIR) or the District Baseline Math test were grouped based on voluntary participation or non-participation in SES tutoring. Scores on the same tests were then compared after the conclusion of SES tutoring. Results showed no gains in improvement for students who received SES tutoring relative to students who did not participate in SES tutoring. Implications for policy are discussed

Comparing Fixed-amount and Progressive-amount DRO Schedules for Tic Suppression in Youth with Chronic Tic Disorders

Chronic tic disorders (CTDs) involve motor and/or vocal tics that often cause substantial distress and impairment. Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) schedules of reinforcement produce robust, but incomplete, reductions in tic frequency in youth with CTDs; however, a more robust reduction may be needed to affect durable clinical change. Standard, fixed‐amount DRO schedules have not commonly yielded such reductions, so we evaluated a novel, progressive‐amount DRO schedule, based on its ability to facilitate sustained abstinence from functionally similar behaviors. Five youth with CTDs were exposed to periods of baseline, fixed‐amount DRO (DRO‐F), and progressive‐amount DRO (DRO‐P). Both DRO schedules produced decreases in tic rate and increases in intertic interval duration, but no systematic differences were seen between the two schedules on any dimension of tic occurrence. The DRO‐F schedule was generally preferred to the DRO‐P schedule. Possible procedural improvements and other future directions are discussed

Appropriate Simulants are a Requirement for Mars Surface Systems Technology Development

To date, there are two simulants for martian regolith: JSC Mars-1A, produced from palagonitic (weathered) basaltic tephra mined from the Pu'u Nene cinder cone in Hawaii [1] by commercial company Orbitec, and Mojave Mars Simulant (MMS), produced from Saddleback Basalt in the western Mojave desert by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory [2]. Until numerous recent orbiters, rovers, and landers were sent to Mars, weathered basalt was surmised to cover every inch of the martian landscape. All missions since Viking have disproven that the entire martian surface is weathered basalt. In fact, the outcrops, features, and surfaces that are significantly different from weathered basalt are too numerous to realistically count. There are gullies, evaporites, sand dunes, lake deposits, hydrothermal deposits, alluvium, etc. that indicate sedimentary and chemical processes. There is no one size fits all simulant. Each unique area requires its own simulant in order to test technologies and hardware, thereby reducing risk

Comprehensive EST analysis of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), a commercially relevant aquaculture species

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An essential first step in the genomic characterisation of a new species, in this case Atlantic halibut (<it>Hippoglossus hippoglossus</it>), is the generation of EST information. This forms the basis for subsequent microarray design, SNP detection and the placement of novel markers on genetic linkage maps.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Normalised directional cDNA libraries were constructed from five different larval stages (hatching, mouth-opening, midway to metamorphosis, premetamorphosis, and post-metamorphosis) and eight different adult tissues (testis, ovary, liver, head kidney, spleen, skin, gill, and intestine). Recombination efficiency of the libraries ranged from 91–98% and insert size averaged 1.4 kb. Approximately 1000 clones were sequenced from the 5'-end of each library and after trimming, 12675 good sequences were obtained. Redundancy within each library was very low and assembly of the entire EST collection into contigs resulted in 7738 unique sequences of which 6722 (87%) had matches in Genbank. Removal of ESTs and contigs that originated from bacteria or food organisms resulted in a total of 7710 unique halibut sequences.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A Unigene collection of 7710 functionally annotated ESTs has been assembled from Atlantic halibut. These have been incorporated into a publicly available, searchable database and form the basis for an oligonucleotide microarray that can be used as a tool to study gene expression in this economically important aquacultured fish.</p

Noninvasive Techniques for Intracranial Pressure Assessment: A Review from Aerospace Medicine Perspective

Microgravity-induced changes in fluid distribution and other physiological factors due to space flight have been implicated as the cause of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in a number of space crewmembers. The modest levels of ICP elevation and absence of severe symptoms in this group do not warrant invasive diagnostic interventions. However, the long-term trends and residual or consequential changes secondary to the observed ICP elevation in this group are not yet known. Therefore, close attention is needed to evaluate the potential techniques of noninvasively assessing ICP, including those feasible for in-flight use. Of particular interest is continuity between ground and in-flight testing, whereby data from the same or different techniques allow reasonably dependable estimation of ICP trends and responses. Methods: A thorough review of current literature, analysis of NASA data, and interviews with subject matter experts were conducted to construct a presentation that reflects the state of the art for noninvasive ICP measurement and monitoring. Results: Multiple imaging and non-imaging modalities are available to assess ICP in terrestrial clinical and experimental environments. Imaging alternatives include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution sonography. Non-imaging techniques include transcranial Doppler, certain audiological methods, and venous ophthalmodynamometry, among others. Special functional techniques have been proposed recently that allow the use of advanced MRI methods to calculate ICP in addition to the acquisition of high-resolution images. Our data include many of these applications, with several cases of correlation with lumbar puncture, the invasive "gold standard" measurement of ICP

Imaging Modalities Relevant to Intracranial Pressure Assessment in Astronauts: A Case-Based Discussion

Introduction: Intracranial pressure (ICP) elevation has been inferred or documented in a number of space crewmembers. Recent advances in noninvasive imaging technology offer new possibilities for ICP assessment. Most International Space Station (ISS) partner agencies have adopted a battery of occupational health monitoring tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pre- and postflight, and high-resolution sonography of the orbital structures in all mission phases including during flight. We hypothesize that joint consideration of data from the two techniques has the potential to improve quality and continuity of crewmember monitoring and care. Methods: Specially designed MRI and sonographic protocols were used to image eyes and optic nerves (ON) including the meningeal sheaths. Specific crewmembers multi-modality imaging data were analyzed to identify points of mutual validation as well as unique features of complementary nature. Results and Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution sonography are both tomographic methods, however images obtained by the two modalities are based on different physical phenomena and use different acquisition principles. Consideration of the images acquired by these two modalities allows cross-validating findings related to the volume and fluid content of the ON subarachnoid space, shape of the globe, and other anatomical features of the orbit. Each of the imaging modalities also has unique advantages, making them complementary techniques

Hacia una interpretación mecanística de la migración de aves en américa del sur

Research to date has demonstrated that bird migration is comprised of highly diverse and plastic behavioural patterns. Our objective is to highlight the importance of studying mechanisms underlying these patterns in austral migrants. We focus on the high incidence of overlap in breeding and non-breeding ranges as a particularly thought-provoking pattern. We then explore the opportunities afforded by partial migration theory to elucidate the mechanisms underlying seasonal range overlap. We propose that a mechanistic understanding of migration in South America will both provide a deeper appreciation of the ecology, physiology and evolution of migratory species in the New World, and improve the scientific foundation for their conservation.La investigación reciente sobre aves migratorias ha demostrado que constituyen un grupo que presenta comportamientos altamente diversos, plásticos y complejos. Nuestro objetivo general es resaltar la importancia de estudiar los mecanismos que generan los patrones que caracterizan la migración de aves en América del Sur. Para ello nos enfocamos en un patrón interesante (la alta incidencia de superposición en la distribución reproductiva y de invernada), analizando las oportunidades ofrecidas por la teoría de migración parcial para dilucidar los mecanismos que producen tal superposición. Proponemos que una comprensión mecanística de la migración de aves en América del Sur no solo proveería una apreciación más profunda sobre la ecología, la fisiología y la evolución de las especies migratorias del Nuevo Mundo, sino que también mejoraría los fundamentos científicos para su conservación

Factor Analysis of the Milwaukee Inventory for Subtypes of Trichotillomania-Adult Version

The Milwaukee Inventory for Subtypes of Trichotillomania-Adult Version (MIST-A; Flessner et al., 2008) measures the degree to which hair pulling in Trichotillomania (TTM) can be described as “automatic” (i.e., done without awareness and unrelated to affective states) and/or “focused” (i.e., done with awareness and to regulate affective states). Despite preliminary evidence in support of the psychometric properties of the MIST-A, emerging research suggests the original factor structure may not optimally capture TTM phenomenology. Using data from a treatment-seeking TTM sample, the current study examined the factor structure of the MIST-A via exploratory factor analysis. The resulting two factor solution suggested the MIST-A consists of a 5-item “awareness of pulling” factor that measures the degree to which pulling is done with awareness and an 8-item “internal-regulated pulling” factor that measures the degree to which pulling is done to regulate internal stimuli (e.g., emotions, cognitions, and urges). Correlational analyses provided preliminary evidence for the validity of these derived factors. Findings from this study challenge the notions of “automatic” and “focused” pulling styles and suggest that researchers should continue to explore TTM subtypes

Clarifying the Relationship Between Trichotillomania and Anxiety

Although research has consistently linked unidimensional anxiety with Trichotillomania (TTM) severity, the relationships between TTM severity and anxiety dimensions (e.g., cognitive and somatic anxiety) are unknown. This knowledge gap limits current TTM conceptualization and treatment. The present study examined these relationships with data collected from ninety-one adults who participated in a randomized clinical trial for TTM treatment. Based on prior research, it was hypothesized that TTM severity would be related to the cognitive anxiety dimension and that psychological inflexibility would mediate the association. Hypotheses were not made regarding the relationship between TTM severity and somatic anxiety. Regression analyses indicated that only cognitive dimensions of anxiety predicted TTM severity and that psychological inflexibility mediated this relationship. Implications for the conceptualization and treatment of TTM are discussed

Burden of Production in Merger Cases Litigating Divestiture Fixes: Amicus Brief

In this amicus brief to the D.C. District Court judge, Amy Berman Jackson, in the U.S. v Assa Abloy, we explain the legal and policy rationales for courts to place the burden of on the merging parties to produce sufficient evidence that the divestiture will preserve competition to rebut the anticompetitive structural presumption based on the market shares of the unremedied merger that was reported to the agencies in the Hart-Scott-Rodino filing