Raising the Comprehension Level of the Advantaged Student Through Locus of Control, Conceptual Prerequisites, and Imagery

The study was conducted to investigate the possibility of raising the comprehension scores of twenty advantaged students through the use of attribution theory in moving the student\u27s locus of control, concept work, and imaging. The subjects of the control and experimental groups were male and female tenth and eleventh grade summer school students whose comprehension scores were at the fiftieth percentile or below or students who would benefit from comprehension instruction. The Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests (1978), Level F, Forms 1 and 2 were used respectively for the pretest and posttest. A related sample t test and analysis of covariance was used to test the null hypothesis. A significant gain was evidenced from the pretest to the posttest and the null hypothesis was rejected. The implications of the study are that the application of attribution theory in the movement of the student\u27s locus of control, concept study, and imaging can significantly raise the comprehension scores of the advantaged student

Which aspects of ADHD are associated with tobacco use in early adolescence?

Several studies have found a relationship between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use, primarily in the context of co-occuring conduct disorder (CD). However, very few have examined the associations between the individual dimensions of ADHD (hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention) and substance use, even though these dimensions reflect distinct symptom groupings, both by clinical definition (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994) and through empirical demonstration (Lahey et al., 1988; McBurnett et al., 1999). This longitudinal study examines the relationship between dimensions of ADHD (as described by DSM) and substance use, accounting for other psychopathology and factors potentially related to substance use. Participants were 177 clinic-referred boys (initially between ages 7 and 12) followed up over nine annual phases until all participants had reached age 15. Annual assessment included structured clinical interviews with parent and child and self-report questionnaires of substance use, as well as questionnaires related to family factors and parenting behaviors. Seventy-eight per cent of participants reported use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit drugs during adolescence, with 51% reporting any tobacco use. The inclusion of CD rendered all bivariate relationships with the full diagnosis of ADHD nonsignificant. However, adolescent inattention, considered independently, was associated with a 2.2 times greater risk for concurrent tobacco use, even after controlling for CD. Even when other factors, selected based on their associations with tobacco use in adolescence, were included in a regression model (concurrent adolescent CD odds ratio [OR] = 6.08), duration of tobacco use by age 12 (OR = 5.11), poor parental communication in childhood (OR = 2.9), African-American ethnicity (inversely predictive; OR = 0.15), inattention (OR = 2.3) remained significantly associated with tobacco use in early adolescence. These findings highlight the importance of considering the risks for comorbid substance use separately by individual dimensions of ADHD

Phase Distribution Phenomena for Simulated Microgravity Conditions: Experimental Work

This report summarizes the work accomplished at Rensselaer to study phase distribution phenomenon under simulated microgravity conditions. Our group at Rensselaer has been able to develop sophisticated analytical models to predict phase distribution in two-phase flows under a variety of conditions. These models are based on physics and data obtained from carefully controlled experiments that are being conducted here. These experiments also serve to verify the models developed

Altruism, Scepticism, and Collective Decision-Making in Foreign-Born U.S. Residents in a Tuberculosis Vaccine Trial

Background: The current vaccine against tuberculosis, BCG, is effective when given in most TB-endemic countries at birth but has diminished efficacy against pulmonary TB after 15–20 years. As a result, new booster vaccines for adolescents and adults are being developed to realize the World Health Organization target of global elimination of TB by 2035. Multiple TB candidates thus are in active clinical development. Methods: One of these, DAR-901, is advancing in human clinical trials. These clinical trials are conducted in BCG immunized adults with and without HIV infection in order to assess safety and efficacy among the people most in need of a new vaccine. A Phase I dose escalation trial of DAR-901 in BCG-immunized adults with or without HIV infection was conducted between 2014 and 2016. This offered an unusual opportunity to qualitatively examine why foreign-born adults living in the United States – a poorly studied population – decide to participate, or not, in clinical trials. Results: We conducted a qualitative study of individuals who were recruited to participate in this Phase I vaccine trial, interviewing those who agreed and declined to participate. We found diverse motivations for participation or refusal; varied understandings of tuberculosis and vaccines; and complex views about how ‘informed consent’ can be at odds with cultural understandings of power, authority, and medical decision-making. These dynamics included: knowledge (direct or indirect) of tuberculosis, a desire to be altruistic and simultaneous hopes for personal gain as well as concerns over what remuneration for participation could mean, the importance of personal relationships with care providers in shaping volunteerism, concerns over privacy, and evidence of how culture and history shape medical decision-making. Conclusions: This US-based trial, aimed at addressing a crucible global health issue, raises productive questions about the interface between altruism and scepticism regarding clinical research participation

Artificial Perches as a Technique for Enhancing Tropical Forest Restoration: A Case Study From the Dominican Republic

Recovering secondary forests on degraded agricultural lands represents a promising opportunity to offset global carbon emissions as well as increasing local biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the insular tropical forests of the Caribbean, frugivorous birds are the primary seed dispersers for most native woody plants and have a large influence on regeneration dynamics during forest succession. In 2017, we initiated an experimental forest restoration program incorporating artificial perches on private farms within the Rio Yaque del Norte watershed in La Vega province, Dominican Republic. Five restoration plots (0.15–0.25 ha) were constructed in pastures near deforested streams. In each plot, 6-12 artificial perches, each 5 m in height, were constructed from bamboo poles fitted with crossbars. We remotely monitored perch use by birds using video cameras and evaluated the effects of perches on the establishment of woody plants in seedling quadrats both below perches and in open spaces. During the summer of 2019, we conducted a behavioral experiment using audio broadcasts of bird sound to test the effect of different avian taxa and feeding guilds on attracting seed dispersers. Eleven avian species were recorded visiting perches, with the most common being Northern Mockingbird and Gray Kingbird. Broadcasting bird sounds led to a significantly greater number of avian visits to the plot. We documented 1,171 seeds from 31 distinguishable species collected from seed traps below perches during the study. Most seedling regeneration in our plots was from exotic non-bird-dispersed taxa which grew equally in perches and control quadrats. Native plant seedlings were infrequent (i.e. beneath 4 of 36 perches) but grew exclusively beneath perches. We conclude that artificial perches are an effective method for augmenting the natural seed bank but are likely to be most effective when used in tandem with planting trees that readily grow to produce shade and litter.https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/gradposters2020_sciences/1004/thumbnail.jp

High level software for 4.8 GHz LHC Schottky system

The performance of the LHC depends critically on the accurate measurements of the betatron tunes. The betatron tune values of each LHC beam may be measured without excitation using a newly installed transverse Schottky monitor. A high-level software package written in Java has been developed for the Schottky system. The software allows end users to monitor and control the Schottky system, and provides them with non-destructive and continuous bunch-by-bunch measurements for the tunes, momentum spreads, chromaticities and emittances of the LHC beams. It has been tested with both proton and lead ion beams at the LHC with very successful results.Comment: 3 pp. Particle Accelerator, 24th Conference (PAC'11) 2011. 28 Mar - 1 Apr 2011. New York, US

Histopathologic and Biochemical Responses in Arctic Marine Bivalve Molluscs Exposed to Experimentally Spilled Oil

Following two experimental spills of chemically dispersed and undispersed crude oil in shallow bays on the northwest coast of Baffin Island, Canadian Arctic, the bivalve molluscs Mya truncata and Macoma calcarea accumulated significant amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons in bays receiving dispersed oil and in those receiving crude oil alone (Boehm et all., 1987). Following the spills, Mya released accumulated hydrocarbons more rapidly than Macoma. ... The results of the biochemical analyses indicate that Mya from the four bays were not severely stressed by either dispersed oil or oil alone. Immediately after the spill, clams from the dispersal oil bays were nearly normal, while those from the bay receiving oil alone appeared stressed. These results seem to corroborate results from analytical chemistry and histopathology: that the acute effects of dispersed oil are greater than those of undispersed oil, but effects of undispersed oil on infaunal molluscs develop more slowly and persist longer than those from dispersed oil.Key words: oil spill, dispersant, Mya truncata, Macoma calcarea, histopathology, biochemistry, neoplasia, free amino acids, glycogen, parasitesMots clés: marée noire, agent de dispersion, Mya truncata, Macoma calcarea, histopathologie, biochimie, néoplasme, acides aminés libres, glycogène, parasite

Survey of Opiine parasitoids of fruit flies (Diptera:Tephritidae) in Thailand and Malaysia

A survey of fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from wild and cultivated host plants was conducted in Thailand and Malaysia between 1986 and 1994. In addition to fruit flies, host samples also yielded parasites of those flies, predominantly opiine wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Opiinae). Although used extensively in classical biological control programmes, very little is known about the host relationships of these parasites in their native environment. From the survey work, host records are given for 13 described species (viz. Diachasmimorpha albobalteata [Cameron], D. dacusii [Cameron], D. longicaudata [Ashmead], Fopius arisanus [Sonan], F. deeralensis [Fullaway], F. persulcatus [Silvestri], F. skinneri [Fullaway], F. vandenboschi [Fullaway], Opius bellus Gahan, Psvtallia flelcheri [Silvestri], P. incisi [Silvestri], P. makii [Sonan] and Utetes bianchii [Fullaway]) and three undescribed opiines. The parasitoid species are listed in relation to the fruit fly species within fruit samples, and the plant species from which the flies and wasps were reared

Evidence for nuclear emissions during acoustic cavitation,”

Abstract: This paper extends the experimental and numerical results presented previously and addresses the major criticisms raised. In addition, the most recent results are discussed. In acoustic cavitation experiments with chilled (0 8C) deuterated acetone (C 3 D 6 O), the production of tritium and 2.45 MeV neutrons [which are characteristic of deuterium-deuterium (D -D) fusion] was observed during vapour bubble implosions in an acoustic pressure field. Similar experiments with deuterated acetone at room temperature (20 8C) and control experiments with normal acetone (C 3 H 6 O), at both 0 and 20 8C, showed no statistically significant increases in either tritium level or neutron emissions. Numerical simulations of the processes that account for the shock waves generated in the liquid and within the collapsing bubbles supported these experimental observations and showed that high densities and temperatures (510 8 K) may be achieved during bubble cloud implosions, yielding the conditions required for D -D nuclear fusion reactions. The present paper treats the bubble fusion experiments and theoretical results in greater detail than was possible in the previous publications, contains some refinements, addresses some important questions raised by reviewers and critics and discusses possible applications of this interesting phenomenon