The decision of African American students to complete high school: An application of the theory of planned behavior.

A longitudinal study explored high school completion among African Americans. Male and female high school students aged 14 to 17 (N 166) completed a theory of planned behavior (I. Ajzen, 1991) questionnaire early in their 2nd year. Intentions to complete the year were accurately predicted from attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (R .71; p .01). Attitudes were related to beliefs about short- and long-term consequences; subjective norms reflected perceived expectations of family, teachers, and friends; and control considerations included requisite academic abilities, conflict with peers and teachers, and distracting life conditions. Intentions and, to a lesser extent, perceived behavioral control, predicted graduation almost 3 years later (R .50; p .01). The findings indicate opportunities for early interventions. Obtaining a high school diploma has become an increasingly important prerequisite for economic and social mobility in the United States. High school dropouts are roughly three times more likely to be chronically poor than are high school graduates (U.S. Census Bureau, 1996). Young people without a high school edu-cation are ill equipped for the modern workforce. They are les

GWAS meta-analysis of over 29,000 people with epilepsy identifies 26 risk loci and subtype-specific genetic architecture

Epilepsy is a highly heritable disorder affecting over 50 million people worldwide, of which about one-third are resistant to current treatments. Here we report a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study including 29,944 cases, stratified into three broad categories and seven subtypes of epilepsy, and 52,538 controls. We identify 26 genome-wide significant loci, 19 of which are specific to genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE). We implicate 29 likely causal genes underlying these 26 loci. SNP-based heritability analyses show that common variants explain between 39.6% and 90% of genetic risk for GGE and its subtypes. Subtype analysis revealed markedly different genetic architectures between focal and generalized epilepsies. Gene-set analyses of GGE signals implicate synaptic processes in both excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the brain. Prioritized candidate genes overlap with monogenic epilepsy genes and with targets of current antiseizure medications. Finally, we leverage our results to identify alternate drugs with predicted efficacy if repurposed for epilepsy treatment

Feedback Control of a Large Steam Generator Using Vector Performance Index

189 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1975.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Multiyear Research Plan Energy Efficient Industrialized Housing

57 pagesThe research program, under the guidance of a steering committee composed of industry and government representatives, focuses on three interdependent concerns -- energy conservation, industrial process, and housing design. Building homes in a factory offers the opportunity to increase energy efficiency through new materials and processes, and increase the value of these homes by improving the quality of their construction. Housing design strives to ensure that these technically advanced homes are marketable and will meet the needs of the people who will live in them. Energy efficiency is the focus for the plan. Because energy is viewed in the context of production and design, researchers will be able to solve energy problems in a way that helps industry improve its product and compete with foreign companies, alleviate the trade imbalance in construction products, increase the productivity of the U.S. housing industry, and decrease both the cost of housing and the use of fossil fuels that are expensive and damaging to the environment