Readout electrode assembly for measuring biological impedance

The invention comprises of a pair of readout ring electrodes which are used in conjunction with apparatus for measuring the electrical impedance between different points in the body of a living animal to determine the amount of blood flow therebetween. The readout electrodes have independently adjustable diameters to permit attachment around different parts of the body between which it is desired to measure electric impedance. The axial spacing between the electrodes is adjusted by a pair of rods which have a first pair of ends fixedly attached to one electrode and a second pair of ends slidably attached to the other electrode. Indicia are provided on the outer surface of the ring electrodes and on the surface of the rods to permit measurement of the circumference and spacing between the ring electrodes

Finger recording electrode system for electrical impedance plethysmograph

System facilitates location of recording electrodes of impedance plethysmograph that is used for measuring flow of blood in finger segment; electrodes can be relocated accurately and volume of finger segment under study can be determined precisely. System minimizes movement artifacts in plethysmograph trace because finger segment is held firmly

Mating Behavior and Male Territoriality in Enallagma vesperum (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) on Ponds in Ohio and Northern Michigan

Author Institution: Biology Department, The University of FindlayThe crepuscular damselfly Enallagma vesperum Calvert, was studied to document and clarify mating behavior. This paper is a descriptive synthesis of observations which answer basic questions regarding mating behavior of E. vesperum. Beginning in July 2004 and continuing in the summers through September 2009, approximately 140 hours of direct observation on a lake in Northern Michigan and a lake and two ponds in Ohio were logged to support the results and conclusions. The literature regarding mating behavior in E. vesperum provides little information about male territoriality. The results from this six-year study offer strong evidence of male territory selection and territory defense. Copulatory behavior and ovipositional behavior were also recorded. In most coenagrionid species, males remain in tandem with ovipositing females unless the females submerge. In this study, however, females were observed ovipositing in tandem or individually into surface vegetation

Ideological Conflict Embedded in Anthropology and the Road to Restructuring the Discipline

Indigenous people have long-held perceptions of the existence of ideological conflicts between indigenous worldview and Western worldview. Western worldview is understood by indigenous people to be embodied in American Anthropology as a discipline and, by extension, in American anthropologists. These conflicts may be considered the genesis of a divide that began with the colonization of the indigenous world and one which continues to sustain the on-going marginalization and oppression of Native populations by a colonizing society; a society which considers indigenous worldview to be an unsubstantiated belief system, while not recognizing that the science upon which anthropological thought is built is itself a belief system and one which reflects a Western worldview. In examining the history of the ideological conflicts between indigenous people and Anthropology, the long-term results of the conflicts, and considering ways in which the divide may be narrowed, two broad questions were conceived as a beginning point of study: “is ideological conflict within American Anthropology a manifestation of colonization and, if so, is some form of resolution possible?” From these two related questions, at least three other questions logically follow and it is these questions upon which the dissertation heavily focuses: first, how does the difference between traditional indigenous forms of knowledge conflict with mainstream anthropological thought? Second, what have been the effects of these differences in efforts to make Anthropology a more inclusive discipline; for example, in graduate studies for indigenous students and the formation of professional level organizations? Finally, is a rapprochement possible, and under what conditions? The continued marginalization of indigenous perspectives raises a number of questions in the minds of indigenous practitioners; questions such as, “why are indigenous knowledge systems excluded from Western pedagogy?” And in particular, “why are indigenous knowledge systems excluded from anthropological pedagogy?” These questions have led indigenous anthropologists to seek ways in which to create a space for expanded and respectful dialogue. The generous participation of indigenous graduate students, indigenous and non-indigenous anthropologists, and the voices of Native American tribal leaders and tribal elders of New England provide an invaluable contribution to this dissertation

Factors Influencing Substance Abuse/Dependence and Treatment Outcome of Adolescents in a Residential Substance Abuse Program: An Exploratory Study

Previous research examining the risk factors associated with alcohol and other drug use has primarily focused on the adult population. Few studies have investigated the factors which influence adolescent substance abuse and the respective effects on treatment outcome. This in spite of the considerable decline in the age-of-onset for problematic substance use that could, if gone untreated, escalate into dependence and a variety of other interpersonal problems which extend across the lifespan. Effective interventions targeting the adolescent population would therefore seem to be of utmost importance to both researchers and clinicians. It has been suggested that individualized treatment programs focusing on the unique risk factors and needs of each client are paramount to the achievement of favorable treatment outcomes. Previous studies have focused on school populations and community samples with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention. The present study sought to examine the characteristics related to treatment outcome with a small sample of adolescents who had been admitted to a residential substance abuse program in rural Illinois to delineate the relationship between factors such as length of time in treatment, involvement with the judicial system, referral source, comorbid psychological problems and treatment outcome/retention. Significant differences were found between those adolescent clients who completed the program successfully and those who were unsuccessfully discharged or left against staff advice based on length of time spent in treatment. However, anticipated relationships between referral source, involvement with the legal system, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses and discharge status were not substantiated. Suggestions for future research are discussed

Measuring the Quality of Data Models: An Empirical Evaluation of the Use of Quality Metrics in Practice

This paper describes the empirical evaluation of a set of proposed metrics for evaluating the quality of data models. A total of twenty nine candidate metrics were originally proposed, each of which measured a different aspect of quality of a data model. Action research was used to evaluate the usefulness of the metrics in five application development projects in two private sector organisations. Of the metrics originally proposed, only three “survived” the empirical validation process, and two new metrics were discovered. The result was a set of five metrics which participants felt were manageable to apply in practice. An unexpected finding was that subjective ratings of quality and qualitative descriptions of quality issues were perceived to be much more useful than the metrics. While the idea of using metrics to quantify the quality of data models seems good in theory, the results of this study seem to indicate that it is not quite so useful in practice. The conclusion is that using a combination of “hard” and “soft” information (metrics, subjective ratings, qualitative description of issues) provides the most effective solution to the problem of evaluating the quality of data models, and that moves towards increased quantification may be counterproductive

The Method Evaluation Model: A Theoretical Model for Validating Information Systems Design Methods

Information Systems (IS) design research tends to emphasise the development of new methods (normative research), while addressing the evaluation of methods in only a limited fashion. A possible reason for this is the philosophical and methodological problems involved in validating methods (“knowledge how”) as opposed to theses (“knowledge that”). “Knowledge that” has been the major focus of scientific research, which is generally about establishing the truth of particular propositions (hypotheses). However an entirely different approach is required to validate methodological knowledge. This paper proposes a theoretical model and associated measurement instrument for evaluating IS design methods. The model is based on two previously unrelated areas of theory: the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) from the IS success literature and Methodological Pragmatism from the philosophy of science. The resulting theoretical model combines two different but related dimensions of method “success”: actual effectiveness and adoption in practice. The model is applicable to all types of IS design methods as well as methods used in other domains. A laboratory experiment and a field experiment are conducted to test the model. The paper also presents some interesting findings about the use of undergraduate students in experimental studies