Language discrimination by human newborns and by cotton-top tamarin monkeys

Humans, but no other animal, make meaningful use of spoken language. What is unclear, however, is whether this capacity depends on a unique constellation of perceptual and neurobiological mechanisms, or whether a subset of such mechanisms are shared with other organisms. To explore this problem, we conducted parallel experiments on human newborns and cotton-top tamarin monkeys to assess their ability to discriminate unfamiliar languages. Using a habituation-dishabituation procedure, we show that human newborns and tamarins can discriminate sentences from Dutch and Japanese, but not if the sentences are played backwards. Moreover, the cues for discrimination are not present in backward speech. This suggests that the human newborns' tuning to certain properties of speech relies on general processes of the primate auditory system

Corporate Philanthropy: The Path To Mutual Benefits

The following thesis explores the field of cross-sector partnerships between the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Two case studies were completed, including an interview with the ARAMARK corporation and the Children’s Museum of Denver. Common themes and findings occurred throughout both interviews. It was emphasized that corporations choose their nonprofit partners based on their overall capacity to build a meaningful and long-term relationship, as well as whether the nonprofit aligns with their priorities as a corporation. The other deciding factor in many cases revolves around whether either party’s customers or constituents might find the partner’s services or products controversial in any way. Corporations want their partnerships to be strategic and meaningful resulting in a relationship that pleases and engages their employees and customers, as well as the media. Corporations also expect nonprofits that approach them are prepared and can clearly illustrate what the corporation’s return on investment will be. Nonprofits must make a strong, solid case that proves how the corporation will benefit from a cross sector partnership.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201

Factors influencing participation in physical activity after dysvascular amputation: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

Purpose: Identifying factors associated with physical activity after dysvascular lower limb amputation (LLA) could provide targets for improving rehabilitation outcomes. The purpose of this meta-synthesis was to identify modifiable factors that may influence physical activity after LLA, a condition characterized by amputation in the setting of older age, diabetes mellitus (DM), and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD).Methods: A systematic search of the literature identified qualitative studies exploring the perceptions of physical activity in people with lower limb amputation, older age, DM, or PAD. Qualitative rigor was assessed using the McMaster Universitys Guidelines for Qualitative Review. Meta-synthesis was undertaken to analyze the findings of included studies.Results: Fourteen studies of variable methodological quality were included for analysis. Three overarching factors that may influence physical activity after LLA emerged: 1) educational experiences and motivation, 2) support and self-efficacy, and 3) special concerns after lower limb amputation (e.g., prosthesis, equipment, and environment).Conclusions: Physical activity after LLA is influenced by relationships among health understanding, motivation, support, and self-efficacy in the presence of disability. Themes from this meta-synthesis can be used to develop and test behavior-based interventions to improve physical activity after LLA.Implications for rehabilitationPhysical activity participation after dysvascular lower limb amputation is complicated by the presence of chronic conditions, severe disability, and unaddressed psychosocial factors.Addressing a patients self-efficacy, social support, motivation, and understanding during physically focused rehabilitation may improve participation in physical activity after dysvascular lower limb amputation.Rehabilitation professionals can address self-efficacy, motivation, and understanding by using collaborative, empathetic communication strategies known to enhance a patients sense of support

Spatial encoding in primate hippocampus during free navigation.

The hippocampus comprises two neural signals-place cells and θ oscillations-that contribute to facets of spatial navigation. Although their complementary relationship has been well established in rodents, their respective contributions in the primate brain during free navigation remains unclear. Here, we recorded neural activity in the hippocampus of freely moving marmosets as they naturally explored a spatial environment to more explicitly investigate this issue. We report place cells in marmoset hippocampus during free navigation that exhibit remarkable parallels to analogous neurons in other mammalian species. Although θ oscillations were prevalent in the marmoset hippocampus, the patterns of activity were notably different than in other taxa. This local field potential oscillation occurred in short bouts (approximately .4 s)-rather than continuously-and was neither significantly modulated by locomotion nor consistently coupled to place-cell activity. These findings suggest that the relationship between place-cell activity and θ oscillations in primate hippocampus during free navigation differs substantially from rodents and paint an intriguing comparative picture regarding the neural basis of spatial navigation across mammals

Analysis of Current and Historical Surface Flows and Hydrologic Response to Restoration Treatments in the Upper Lake Mary Watershed, Arizona

In the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States, water is perhaps the scarcest and most valuable resource. John Wesley Powell became convinced of water's vital importance to the region during his exploration of the West in 1869, and reported as much to Congress upon his return (Reisner 1993). Powell foresaw the need for reliable supplies of water in the Southwest for agricultural purposes and to slake the thirst of an ever-expanding populace; his predictions are proving to hold true now more than ever. The western U.S. is currently the fastest-growing region in the country, with Arizona and Nevada leading the nation in population growth rates (Bernstein 2006)

Service-Learning: An Interpretive case study of Teachers’ Perspectives and Planning Strategies

This interpretive case study focused on elementary teachers who were implementing a service-learning project in their classroom. Research suggests that service-learning is beneficial for students and is becoming more prevalent in high schools and universities. Current literature, however, provides little evidence for the use of service-learning at the elementary level. The purpose of this study was to explore and gain insight in to how elementary school teachers use service learning and to examine underlying factors that shape and influence how teachers plan for and implement service learning projects. This study aims to provide a planning model to support elementary teachers implementing future service-learning projects. Four third grade teachers at a southeastern suburban elementary school participated in the study. Data were generated through interviews, focus groups, and observations. Data showed that these teachers did not use the same planning strategies for service-learning that they used in planning for academic standards. Teachers had negative perceptions of SL as a strategy because they did not have time to plan, felt too much pressure to accomplish other obligations such as standardized instruction, or they did not have the pedagogical or content knowledge necessary to be successful. This study suggests that teachers need to plan for an emergent curriculum when implementing a SL project, but further research and professional development are necessary to develop a planning model

Multiple Pulse Line Narrowing: Approaches for Solid State NMR Imaging

The application of NMR imaging to problems in materials science, and in particular to nondestructive evaluation, has been hindered by a lack of appropriate NMR techniques to image rigid solids. NMR imaging of solids is made difficult by the typically broad NMR lines observed in the solid state. Molecular motion in liquids narrows the NMR line, making possible the high quality images obtained in medical imaging. The molecular motion present in some solids has been exploited to obtain NMR images materials such as elastomers [1,2]. Alternatively, the solid component of materials has been inferred from the absence of signals in NMR images of imbibed fluids. Here we discuss a class of NMR imaging methods which aim to reduce the apparent solid state linewidth to values approximating those in liquid samples

Biobehavioral Intervention Targeting Physical Activity Behavior Change for Older Veterans after Nontraumatic Amputation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Lower-limb amputation (LLA) due to non-traumatic vascular etiology is linked to extremely low physical activity and high disability. OBJECTIVE: To test the feasibility of a biobehavioral intervention designed to promote physical activity. DESIGN: A randomized, single-blind feasibility trial with a crossover design. SETTING: Veterans Administration Medical Center. PARTICIPANTS: Military veterans (age: 65.7 [7.8] years; mean [standard deviation]) with nontraumatic lower-limb amputation (LLA), randomized to two groups: GROUP1 (n = 16) and GROUP2 (n = 15). Both groups had similar baseline amputation characteristics (level of amputation and time since amputation). INTERVENTIONS: Twelve weekly, 30-minute telehealth sessions of physical activity behavior-change intervention, with GROUP1 participating in weeks 1-12 and GROUP2 in weeks 13-24. GROUP1 noncontact phase in weeks 13-24 and GROUP2 attention control telehealth phase in weeks 1-12. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility (participant retention, dose goal attainment, intervention acceptability [Intrinsic Motivation Inventory [IMI] Interest and Enjoyment scale], safety) and signal of efficacy (free-living physical activity [accelerometer-based average daily step count], Late Life Function and Disability Index - Disability Scale [LLFDI-DS]). RESULTS: Participant retention rate was high (90%), with three participants lost to follow-up during the intervention period. Dose goal attainment was low, with only 10% of participants achieving an a priori walking dose goal. Intervention was rated as acceptable, with mean IMI Interest and Enjoyment score (5.8) statistically higher than the null value of 5.0 (P = .002). There were no between-group differences in adverse event rates (falls: P = .19, lower extremity wounds: P = .60). There was no signal of efficacy for change in average daily step count (d = -0.15) or LLFDI-DS (d = -0.22 and 0.17 for frequency and limitations scales, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth delivered biobehavioral intervention resulted in acceptable participant retention, low dose goal attainment, high participant acceptability, and low safety risk, while having no signal of efficacy (physical activity, disability) for people with nontraumatic LLA

Variability of in‐stream and riparian storage in a beaded arctic stream

The extent and variability of water storage and residence times throughout the open water season in beaded arctic streams are poorly understood. Data collected in Imnavait Creek, a beaded stream located north of the Brooks Range in Alaska, were used to better understand the effects of in‐pool and riparian storage on heat and mass movement through beaded streams. Temperature data of high spatial resolution within the pools and surrounding sediments were used with volumetric discharge and electrical conductivity to identify storage areas within the pools, banks, and other marshy areas within the riparian zone, including subsurface flow paths that connect the pools. These subsurface flows were found to alter water conductivity and the character of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in short reaches (10 s of m) while influencing the chemistry of downstream pools. During low flow periods, persistent stratification occurred within the pools due to absorption of solar radiation by DOM coupled with permafrost below and low wind stress at the pool surface. Additionally, one of the shallow pools (<0.5 m depth) remained stratified during higher flow periods and lower radiation inputs due to dense subsurface flows entering the bottom of the pools. This consistent separation of surface and bottom water masses in each pool will increase the travel times through this and similar arctic watersheds, and therefore will affect the evolution of water chemistry and material export. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93522/1/hyp8323.pd