Promoting Appropriately Engaged Behavior in the Classroom with Student Self-Monitoring and Teacher Feedback

Student engagement in classroom activities promotes deeper learning and higher academic achievement, while noncompliant-disruptive behavior can lead to negative indicators. Acknowledging the need to support students whose conduct falls into the latter category, schools have implemented proactive behavioral systems in various educational contexts. Within one particular approach, School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBS), teachers and staff members employ specific strategies that promote positive student-adult relationships. The current study made use of one manifestation of the Check In, Check Out (CICO) system by providing a Daily Behavior Report Card (DBRC) that included goals related to maintaining eye contact and using desk materials appropriately. Four students with demonstrated behavioral needs participated in an AB single case design study where the research focused on increasing time spent in Appropriately Engaged Behavior (AEB) through the process of providing teacher feedback on a DBRC and embedding a student self-monitoring task. Results demonstrated an increase in AEB across all participants, but did not indicate a functional relationship to the intervention itself based on analysis of Percentage of Non-Overlapping Data (PND). While inconclusive, such positive increases suggest that use of both specific teacher feedback on behavior and self-regulatory practices may be beneficial in increasing AEB in general education middle-school age students

Kunnskapsstatus for hva økonomisk forskning har avdekket om flernasjonale selskapers internprising i Norge

Ved å manipulere prisene på selskapsinterne transaksjoner kan flernasjonale selskaper flytte overskudd fra høyskatteland til lavskatteland. Slik overskuddsflytting kan ha stor innflytelse på selskapsskattebasen til vertslandene. Denne rapporten oppsummerer den kunnskapen akademisk forskning har frembrakt om hvor stort problem flernasjonale selskapers internprising representerer for norske skattemyndigheter. Det er svært få tidligere empiriske studier som bruker norske data. Vi drøfter disse inngående og supplerer litteraturen med omfattende egne analyser. Vi avdekker sammenhenger som er konsistente med overskuddsflytting gjennom manipulering av internpriser. Vi finner at flernasjonale selskaper både flytter overskudd ut av Norge og inn til Norge - alt avhengig av hvilke skattesatser de står overfor i andre land. Vi anslår at nettostrømmen går ut av Norge og at skatteunndragelsen kan være i størrelsesorden 30 prosent av det potensielle skatteprovenyet fra utenlandske flernasjonale foretak. Dette estimatet er svært usikkert, og videre forskning er nødvendig for å bedre kunnskapen på feltet

Phenotypic characteristics of dwarfism in Ragdoll

Under år 2016 uppmärksammades inom ragdollrasen att ett ökat antal kattungar utvecklade dvärgväxt, förstoppning och mental påverkan. De flesta kattungar avled vid 3-4 månaders ålder på grund av megakolon. Scandinavian Ragdoll Club har gått igenom stamtavlor och en gemensam ”stammoder” upptäcktes, denna katt har varit mycket populär inom avel och har ett stort antal avkommor i Sverige. Utav de kullar som registrerades i SVERAK år 2016 fanns katten dubblad i nästan hälften av kullarna. Problemet verkar vara ärftligt och nedärvningen misstänks vara autosomalt recessiv. Kattungarna har testats för några kända utvecklingsrubbningar utan att man hittat orsaken. Syftet med detta arbete vara att göra en litteraturstudie över tillväxtrubbningar och att göra en fenotypisk beskrivning av de dvärgväxta ragdollkattungarna. Det finns många tillstånd som kan leda till försämrad tillväxt. I detta arbete ligger fokus på tillväxtrubbningar som har förstoppning med i den kliniska bilden. I litteraturstudien utreds sjukdomar med likartade sjukdomsyttringar hos människa; Hirschsprungs sjukdom, Downs syndrom, Smith-LemliOpitz syndrom och hypotyreos. Av dessa sjukdomar finner författaren till detta arbete att en kombination av Hirschsprungs sjukdom och Downs syndrom verkar stämma in bäst på kattungarna. Detta är en sjukdomskombination som förekommer på människa. Avvikelser i sköldkörtelfunktionen är även de intressanta vid tillväxtrubbningar och kan behöva utredas ytterligare. I arbetet sammanställs fynd från bildiagnostik och obduktion av dvärgväxta ragdollkattungar. Inga påtagliga skeletala avvikelser kunde påvisas i bilddiagnostiska undersökningar i form a röntgen- och datortomografiundersökning. För att ge mer detaljerad beskrivning av katternas storlek och proportioner gjordes ingående mätningar av skelettdelar med hjälp av datortomografiupptagningar av tre 14 veckor gamla kattungar från samma kull, som avlivats på grund av dvärgväxt. Vid obduktion av dessa kattungar kunde inga andra makroskopiska förändringar än förstoppning ses. Vid histologisk undersökning av endokrina organ kunde inga avvikelser påvisas. Den fenotypiska beskrivningen av dvärgväxta ragdollkattungar bidrar med viktig information i fortsatta arbetet att påvisa underliggande orsak till dvärgväxt hos ragdollkattungar.In 2016, an increased number of Ragdoll kittens who developed dwarfism, constipation and mental affection were observed. Most kittens died at 3-4 months of age due to megacolon. The Scandinavian Ragdoll Club performed an investigation of the geneaology and found a common ancestress. This cat has been very popular when it comes to breeding and has several offspring in Sweden, almost half of the Ragdoll litters registered in SVERAK year 2016 had this cat doubled in the litters. The problem seems to be inherited with an autosomal recessive trait. The kittens has tested negative for several known inherited conditions. The aim of the present study was to perform a literature study on conditions resulting in growth retardation, and to make a phenotypical description of the dwarf kittens. There is a plethora of different conditions that can lead to failure to grow. The focus of this thesis is on conditions where constipation is part of the clinical picture. Manifestations in humans with similar clinical picture is reviewed; Hirschsprung disease, Down syndrome, Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, GM1-gangliosidosis and hypothyroidism. Out of those conditions, the author of this paper believes a combination of Hirschsprung disease and Down syndrome is the most likely source to the kittens’ condition. However, hypothyroidism remains an interesting disease for further investigations. In the present study, findings from diagnostic imaging and post mortem examinations of affected kittens are summarized. No obvious abnormalities were detected on radiological examination of the skeleton. To get a more detailed description of the size and proportions of the kittens, detailed measurements of different part of the skeleton were performed on computed tomography data from three 14-week-old kittens euthanized due to dwarfism. No abnormal findings, except constipation, was found on post mortem examination of the kittens. Histological examination of the endocrine organs was normal. The phenotypical description of the Ragdoll dwarf kittens provides valuable contribution to the ongoing research on growth retardation in Ragdoll cats

Smärtlindring vid akupunkturbehandling på smådjur

Akupunktur har används i många år som behandling mot diverse sjukdomstillstånd, bland annat som smärtlindring. Om man kan använda akupunktur som ett komplement till medicinsk smärtlindring, skulle man få billigare och säkrare behandlingar och sövningar. Denna artikel är ett försök i att reda ut om det finns vetenskaplig grund till akupunkturens analgetiska effekt, och hur detta verkar i kroppen. Flera forskare har genomfört studier som förklarar hur smärtlindringsmekanismen verkar, och jag går här igenom 6 teorier: gatewayteorin, aktivering av GABA-receptorer samt frisättning av serotonin och noradrenalin, frisättning av endogena opioider, frisättning av antiinflammatoriska cytokiner, ändrad aktivitet i olika delar av hjärnan, och halten cholecystokinin octapeptid (CCK-8). Det finns flera motsägande artiklar till många av teorierna, men den teori som verkar ha störst belägg är frisättning av endogena opioider. Naloxon, som är en opioidantagonist för alla opioidreceptorer, blockerar analgesi som uppstått efter akupunktur, likaväl som den blockerar analgesi från morfin. Detta är en återkommande upptäckt, och endogena opioider verkar bidra stort till smärtlindringen efter akupunkturbehandling. Det har även visat sig att halten av CCK-8, som är individuell, styr graden av analgesi. Ju mer CCK-8 individen har, desto lägre analgesi upplevs. Ett alternativ till individer som inte uppnår terapeutisk effekt efter behandling är att byta metod. Det finns tecken på att de som inte svarar på manuell akupunktur, upplever analgesi av elektroakupunktur. Att få effekt genom en så enkel handling som att byta metod skulle hjälpa många individer med kroniska smärttillstånd, som tidigare inte svarat på behandling. Det har dock visat sig att placebobehandling kan ha nästan lika hög effekt som akupunkturbehandling. Samtidigt som det har gjorts många studier som visar att akupunktur ger signifikant bättre resultat än placebo, så kommer de flesta av dessa studier från Asiatiska länder som har visat sig ge fler positiva resultat i akupunkturförsök än resten av världen, vilket måste has i åtanke.Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years, but it is mainly for the past 40 years it has been considered a form of treatment in Europe. One of the most frequent conditions treated with acupuncture is pain. If needles could be used as a complement to medical treatment, costs would go down and the treatments would be safer, with lesser risk of over dosing. I would like to find out if there is, in the literature, any scientific evidence for the analgesic effect of acupuncture, and if so, how it works. I have focused on describing 6 theories of the mechanism of action: the gateway theory, activation of GABA receptors and secretion of serotonin and noradrenalin, secretion of endogenous opioids, secretion of anti inflammatory cytokines, altered activity in the brain, and the level of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8). There are many scientists arguing against acupuncture, but the theory that seems to have the most proof is secretion of endogenous opioids. Naloxone, an antagonist for all three opioid receptors, inhibits the analgesic effect from both acupuncture and morphine. This is a reoccurring finding, which argues that endogenous opioids are important mediators in acupuncture analgesia. Another way of changing the therapeutic effect is by change of methods. Studies have shown that individuals who do not respond to manual acupuncture, will in some cases respond to electroacupuncture. By changing method, it might be possible to help non-responding patients by very simple means. The placebo effect has always been discussed in this area, and there is still no definite answer to how big a role it has. Some studies show that placebo treatment results in nearly as high beneficial effects as acupuncture treatment. Other studies show results that beg to differ, although one must keep in mind that most of the studies concerning acupuncture originate from Asia, a continent which produces a higher amount of positive results in acupuncture studies than the rest of the world. That is not to say they are not trustworthy

Cell mediated immune response dominates in experimental mammary gland Candida krusei infection in immunocompetent and immuno - compromised (nu/nu) mice

Experimental local mammary gland Candida krusei infection in immuno-competent and in congenic athymie nude BALB/c mice over a period of 21 days demonstrated that the immunocompetent mice readily cleared the infection whereas the infection persisted in the athymic mice. The fungal burden, however, was similar in the nude mice and in the immuno-compctcnt mice until day 18 after infection. The ratio Ofinterferony/interleukin-4 (1FN-y/IL-4) concentrations in supernatants from (ZonA stimulated splenocytcs of the infected mice indicated a predominant Th1 response to the C. krusei infection. Stimulated splenocytes of the infected immuno-competent mice synthesised significantly higher concentrations of the two eytokines than did the  splenocytes from the infected nude mice. The present study indicates that local C. krusei infection is associated with a predominant IFN-y-Th1 response although a gradual activation of the Th2 -arm (IL-4) of the immune system may beindicated late in the course of infection

Visually Guided Inter-limb Adaptation During Walking In Children And Adults

Voluntary visually guided movements must be constantly adapted to maintain accuracy. Here we applied principles of visuomotor adaptation to drive inter-limb adaptation of joint kinematics during voluntary, visually guided walking. We tested whether step length symmetry could be adapted and stored after training with mismatched visual feedback on two legs. 17 healthy children (9M/8F, 6-15 yrs) and 8 healthy adults (7M/1F, 26±6 yrs) were tested. We created a computer task where subjects modified step length trial-by-trial to hit virtual targets while walking on a treadmill. The relationship between screen-space and treadmill-space was defined by a visuomotor gain for each leg. Each test consisted of a baseline period (same gain on both legs), an adaptation period (one high gain, one low gain) and a post-adaptation period (same gain). The ‘fast leg’ and ‘slow leg’ refers to the leg adapted with the higher and lower gain, respectively. During the adaptation period, the leg adapted with the higher gain appeared to move fast, and the other leg appeared to move slowly on display. All healthy children and adults tested could rescale step length to maintain endpoint accuracy during visually guided walking. Step length gradually became more asymmetric during adaptation. The fast leg shortened step length (to correct overshoot), and the slow leg lengthened step length (to correct undershoot). In the post-adaptation period, step length asymmetry persisted (after-effect) despite the fact that the gains have returned to normal. The presence of an after-effect indicates storage of a new inter-limb visuomotor calibration. The after-effect was partially washed out after one minute of post-adaptation walking. This study suggests that visually guided inter-limb adaptation can alter step length, a major determinant of gait stability and energetic costs. This may open up new opportunities to correct abnormal, asymmetric walking patterns in children and adults with neurological damage

Ultraviolet Emission Lines in Young Low Mass Galaxies at z~2: Physical Properties and Implications for Studies at z>7

We present deep spectroscopy of 17 very low mass (M* ~ 2.0x10^6 Msun to 1.4x10^9 Msun) and low luminosity (M_UV ~ -13.7 to -19.9) gravitationally lensed galaxies in the redshift range z~1.5-3.0. Deep rest-frame ultraviolet spectra reveal large equivalent width emission from numerous lines (NIV], OIII], CIV, Si III], CIII]) which are rarely seen in individual spectra of more massive star forming galaxies. CIII] is detected in 16 of 17 low mass star forming systems with rest-frame equivalent widths as large as 13.5 Angstroms. Nebular CIV emission is present in the most extreme CIII] emitters, requiring an ionizing source capable of producing a substantial component of photons with energies in excess of 47.9 eV. Photoionization models support a picture whereby the large equivalent widths are driven by the increased electron temperature and enhanced ionizing output arising from metal poor gas and stars, young stellar populations, and large ionization parameters. The young ages implied by the emission lines and continuum SEDs indicate that the extreme line emitters in our sample are in the midst of a significant upturn in their star formation activity. The low stellar masses, blue UV colors, and large sSFRs of our sample are similar to those of typical z>6 galaxies. Given the strong attenuation of Ly-alpha in z>6 galaxies we suggest that CIII] is likely to provide our best probe of early star forming galaxies with ground-based spectrographs and one of the most efficient means of confirming z>10 galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Impact Playbook for Museums, Libraries, Archives and Galleries

No abstract available